Why Not Automatic?!

Just don't whine about not having Automatics. I learned on 2 sticks and had to drive 1 truck in the oilfield which ahd a 13 spd with a 4 spd spicer and a 2 speed rearend with a V12 CAT engine. Would run well over 100 MPH and you could forget which gear you were in almost every time. You could put it in low and walk clear around it and it would move about 2 ft I got paid to play in dirt, oil and cow manure as we had bull wagons also.

Trains have automatics, trucks have sticks.

 

And what would that prove? I made my point pretty clear already. Its not about what I think makes a good driver. Its about what I think DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY make a driver a good driver.

Driver A: Drives an auto has also driven standard 9 & 10 speeds.
Driver B: Drives 13 speeds, has also driven 18 speeds, twin sticks, and few others, hates autos.

There are those in this thread who would claim that driver B is the more competent driver based on the info above. I call BS on that. That is my point and nothing more.

Suppose driver A has been driving for 20 years and a couple million miles. Has never had a ticket or an accident has worked for 4 companies in those 20 years and has left each job with ample notice in writing.

Suppose driver B has 5 years under his belt, 2 at fault accidents and for 4 moving violations in the last 3 years. Quit 4 different jobs all without giving notice, abandoned the truck under load from one job and got fired from two others. But if we listen to the gurus in this thread, we would have to determine that driver A is a steering wheel holder and would be a less desirable hire than driver B because driver be used to drive twin sticks and driver A didn't. Total BS. No other way to put it.

That is the point that you missed. Happy now?

 

^^^^ Next scenario could you add some black helicopters

 

Well that's certainly a well reasoned retort.

 

JG you seem to be taking offense to the fact some like manuals over automatics, and its not that serious. So to try to bring peace. I erased my retort, and wanted to bring a little humor to calm the fires. It was a great story, and would of been a lot better if you added the black helicopters. Some people can discern that the argument is going nowhere and the person only is going to see it from their vantage point. So the best thing to do is let it go. Change the subject and agree to disagree. I believe you drive city. Some of us drive OTR. We deal with mountains, and all types of weather. We just fill more comfortable if we have more control over the changing of gears. Then hoping that the computer that operates the transmission is not going to fritz out on us in dangerous situations. Enjoy your day good sir. God bless

 

I have said nothing that would indicate that. You can like whatever you want to like. Its only when people start making BS claims about those who drive one vs the other that I feel the need to disagree.

And for record, you are correct that I drive local not OTR. Thus I don't have to run mountains, though there seems to be no shortage of people who report driving mountains in autos with zero issues but I suppose that doesn't count for anything because what do they know? Still I think you would be surprised at how much time I spend on the highway every week. Probably quite not as much as you, but not significantly less either. I typically do a 60+ hour week and 85%-90% of that is highway right next to you OTR super drivers. As for weather, I'm not sure what you consider to be driving in weather but I spend all my time running between Chicago and Detroit. Seems like driving in weather to me but what do I know? I'm only a local driver.

So let me be clear. If your argument is I just like manuals better, I have no issue with that. If you're argument is I like manuals better because autos are dangerous and unreliable and only steering holder drive them, then yeah, I have a problem with that. Sue me.

 

Wow Just left Plainwell Mi. I drive for JBS Carriers. We are up there all the time. Well again. Take everything with a grain of salt my friend. Its just an opinion. Everybody has one. Manuals and Automatics break. So like most are saying what they are comfortable with, and to the Newbie who wants an automatic because he can't get the mechanics of down shifting. That he should learn how to drive the manual because there is no guarantee he will always drive for companies with automatics.

To have to deal with detroit, and chicago. I would think you would have a more mellower spirit. Gee's my friend. If the shoe doesn't fit don't wear it. I drove automatics for I think 1 or 2 years otr. I never had a problem in the mountains, but there is always a first time for everything. I'd prefer a manual but I'm not paying for the truck so I'll drive what is provided. In the case of automatics. I'll hold the steering wheel. Just messing with ya dude.

 

Eh, small world. I ran through Plainwell just yesterday.

Nah, I'm not all that up tight. Its just my NJ showing I think. I live in the midwest, but I'm not from the midwest if you know what I mean. I like the lifestyle out here but I'll always be a bit of a stranger in a strange land to the culture of it.

 

if you really wanna be a stranger in a strange land try being from NH and living in NJ

 

NH! My home state.....